Coating machine



Feb. 13, .1940. I F, EBERHART 2,189,783

COATING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR "a w. ATTORNEY5 Feb.'l3, 1940. Y F. EBERHART 2,139,783

I COATING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z /64 I 27 a /71 Z/ 9 /7 /5 Q 7 3 y F z 2 INVENTOR QJ M ATTORNEYS Feb; 13, 1940.

F. EBERHART COATING MACHINE F'iled July 6, 1935 4 Shets-Shet 4 III INVENTOR v A'ITORNE'YS Patented Feb. 1-3, 1940 OA'I'ING MACHINE Felix Eberhart, Arlington, N. 1., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y a corporation of New Jersey Application July 6, 1935, Serial No. 30.148

1:. Claims. (01. 91-

"Fi 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken sub- The present invention relates to coating ma-.

chines and has particular reference to machines 'for applying a plurality of overlapping layers of a liquid coating material to the interior surfaces of container or can cylinders through the openends of the-cylinders and from a plurality of opposed directions.

An object of the invention is the provision of a can spraying machine for progressively spraying the interior surface of open end can. body cylinders by turning the can bodies or cylinders in one direction while spraying from one end and then in the opposite direction while spraying from the other end so as to cause the particles of the coating material to intermix and flow to gether, thereby providing a continuous smooth protective coating of uniform thickness and unbroken consistency. I

Another object isthe provision in such a machine, of a mechanism which guards the. ma-

chine parts adjacent the spraying device from being coated or incrusted with spraying material while at the same time providing a gauge to insure proper coating of the flanges surrounding the open ends of the can bodies.

Another object is the provision in such a machine of instrumentalities for feeding and guiding lithographed cans through the machine in such a manner as to protect the lithographing against scratching or marring.

Still another object of the invention is the provision in such a machine of electrically operated means for retarding the feeding of can bodies into the. machine in timed relation with the intermittent travel of a turret and electrically operated means for preventing the spraying devices from operating when no can body is present at a spraying station.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision in such a machine of an'organized electric wiring system which automatically synchronizes all electrically connected operating parts to cause them to work in timed cooperation, thereby permitting greater speed of operations.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which; taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a can spraying machine embodying the instant invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a. view in side elevation of the machine showing its left side as viewed in Fig. 1, certain parts being section; i I

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

broken away and shown instantialiy along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3; and

. Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the electric circult utilized in the machine.

In the machine disclosed in the drawings, ,cylindrical can bodies, having both ends flanged and open are fed into the machine from an inclined runway having an associated electrically operated device for releasing the cans'one at a time. The lower end of the runway terminates adjacent the path of-travel of an intermittently rotating turret having a horizontal axis and radially disposed can pockets into which the cans are individually positioned.

A pocket of the turret receives the lowermost can from the runway at station A and conveys the positioned can through two idle stations B and C and then to the first spraying station D. Here the can is rapidly rotated in a clockwise direction in its turret pocket while the turret is briefly at rest and a spray of liquid coating material is projected against its interior surface through one of its open ends.

After several revolutions of the can the spray is automatically out off and the turret makes another of its intermittent movements until it comes to another dwell at spraying station E where the can is again rapidly revolved in a counter-clockwise direction.

Again the interior of the can is sprayed with the liquid coating material while the can is rethe can. The can is thus sprayed from opposite ends alternately while being revolved in opposite directions. This causes the particles of coating material while still wet to flow together and intermix with each other thereby covering the desired can surface with a protective film of even thickness and unbroken consistency. At the completion of this spraying operation the spray is cut oil. a

Upon the next step rotation of the turret and while the turret isv moving the can away from the spraying station E it is dropped .into an inclined machine.

Can body cylinders a are brought into the top of, themachine at the can receiving station A in a continuous procession along an inclined runway IG. The can bodies have both ends open,

volved but this time through the opposite end of r and are preferably provided with a flange b which later in another machine is interlocked with the flange of a can end to form a double seam. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to spraying flanged open mouth cans but is also applicable to cans having the ends partially closed, such as for example friction plug: cans having a friction sealing ring at both ends of the can, or hole and cap cans, or the like.

The runway comprises spaced and parallel can guides l7 secured to brackets 98, which in turn are bolted to the top of the frame it}. The lower end of the runway terminates adjacent the periphery of the turret ii.

In most cases the exterior surfaces of the can body a are already lithographed and it is desirable to protect these'decorations against scratching or/marring as the bodies pass through the machine. For this purpose the lowermost can body in the runway before entering the machine is arrested just above the turret periphery by a retarding device best illustrated in Fig. 5.

'The device comprises an electric solenoid 28 which is bolted to the top of the frame l5 adjacent the can runway and which is equipped with a centrally located sliding rod or armature 22 which passes through the solenoid windings:

One end of the rod is slidablycarried in a bore 23 formed in bracket I 8 and extends into the runwaylt projecting into an open end of the lowermost can body a holding the latter in a sus pendedposition. The other end oi the rod extends outside of the solenoid and is surrounded by a coiled spring 241 which is held in place by a collar 25 mounted on the extreme and of the thereby releasing a can body. into the turret pocket.

The turret ii is intermittently rotated in a step by step movement by its shaft is, in vturn rotated by any suitable means. The turret discs 12 are formed with can holding pockets 2'? and as the turret pauses between rotations a pocket is positioned in alignment with a suspended can w body a in the runway l6, at which time the solenoid rod 22 releases the lowermost can body and permits the remaining can bodies in the runway to move downward one step. The released lowermost can body falls into a pocket 21 at station A and the rod is again projected into the now lgwermost can retarding it and those in'back of i Each end of the pocket 21 is formed with an annular narrow raised rib 28 which engages the can body side wall behind each can body flange and away from the lithographing so that the latter will not be marred.

The turret is now moved through a step of its rotation carrying the can body away from the station A to an idle station 3. while the other can bgdies in the runway are held back by the rod 2 The second step of rotation of the turret, carries the can body to an idle station 0. After leaving the station B'the can body engages a pair of spaced arcuate guide rails 3| which hold it in its pocket 21. The guide rails extend along and are spaced away from the left hand outer edge of the turret as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. The outer peripheries of the can flanges b ride on the inner surfaces of these guide rails to prevent disflguratlon of the lithographing on the can body side wall.

At their upper ends the guide rails are spaced apart (Figs. 1 and 2) and are supported on a bar 32 carried in a boss 33 formed in the frame l5. At their lower ends they are held in spaced relation by a tie rod 34 and are also secured to the edges of a pair of spaced guard plates 35, which extend across the front and back of the lower part of the turret. The plates 35 are also bolted to the upper ends of brackets 36 which in turn are secured to a table portion 31.

At stations B and C no operations are performed on the can body a, these stations being merely incidental to locating the can at the next station which is spraying station D. On the next step in the rotation of the turret the can is carried to this station D which is located near the bottom of the turret.

In passing into the station the can body leaves the guide rails 3| and is held in a horizontal position in its pocket by and supported on a resilient roller 4|. The roller is mounted on the body of a flat head screw 42 (Figs. 2 and 3) which may be threadedly secured in a vertical web of a bracket 43 which is bolted to the top of the table 31. The roller is continuously rotated and through frictional engagement with the can side wall the can in turn is rapidly revolved while at this station.

This rotation is effected by a gear 44 mounted on the screw 42. adjacent the roller 4| and secured to it. The gear meshes with an idler gear 45 which is mounted on a screw 48 carried in the bracket 43 and this idler gear meshes with a driving gear 4?. The driving gear is secured to the side of a sprocket 48 and both the gear and the sprocket are mounted on a screw 49 threadedly secured in the bracket 43.

The train of gears 44, 45, 41 is thus actuated by the sprocket 48 which in turn is driven by a chain 6| which meshes with a driving sprocket 52 (Fig. 1). The sprocket 52 is mounted on the end of a shaft 53 which is carried in a bearing 55 formed in a bracket 55, extending from the side of the table 31. The shaft 53 is continuously rotated in any suitable manner from the main driving shaft of the machine.

While the positioned can body is being rotated at station D a spray of liquid coating material is projected into it through its forward open end and against its interior side wall by a spray head 51 (Fig. 2) which is mounted on a bracket 58 formed as a part of a. casing 59, which in turn is secured to an inclined top padoi a bracket 6|. This inclined position causes the spray head to tilt at a downward angle toward the forward open end of the can body.

The spray head is a standard commercial device of the spray gun type and comprises a nomle 63 having an internal needlevalve with a stem 84 for opening and. closing the spray ejecting end of the nozzle.

A pipe 61 connecting with the spray head nearthe nozzle end delivers a liquid coating material to the nozzle under pressure from any suitable source of supply. At the opposite end of the spray head a connecting pipe 66 delivers comaromas 3 pressed air to the nozzle from a suitable Ill, leaving a slot opening for the disc. A wiper of supply. pad Ill-of felt or other suitable material is'held when the needle valve is opened the compressed air ejects the coating material from the end-of the nozzle and into the'can body interior. The opening and closing of the valve is effected in timed relation with the step rotation of the turret, ,the opening of the valve taking place as soon as theturret positions a cadet the station D. If no can body is in position when the turret pauses the valve does not open. I

This is eflected by a no-can-no-spray device having a can body engaging roller 0| (Fig. 3) of soft resilient material such as rubber which will not mar the lithographing of the can. The roller 68 is carried on one end'of a substantially horizontal arm 09 of a bell crank lever II which is also provided with a vertical arm 12. The lever is pivotally mounted on a stud I3 which is carried in a boss I4 formed in a bracket II. A can body arriving at station D engages the roller and pivots the bell crank lever on its stud I3 causing the vertical arm' 12 to actuate an electric switch( I6 (Figs. 3 and 5). -'To render this action sensitive a counterbalance weight 11 is slidably mounted on a rod I0 (Fig. 3) having one end threadedly secured in a boss 19 formed' on the lever II. A set screw 0|- threadediy engaging the weight is provided for looking it in position on the rod when it is once adjusted. The switch It is connected with a solenoid (Fig. 2) and both are part of an electric circuit. which will be fully explained in connection with the wiring diagram illustrated, in Fig. 6.v The solenoid ishoused in the casing 50 and is provided with a movable core rod 04, one end vof which is connected by links 05 to the stem 84 of the nozzle needle valve. Through this connection a can body arriving at station D actuates the switch 10, establishing a circuit which energizes the solenoid and moves the rod 84. The needle valve in the spray head 51 is thereby opened and a spray of coating material is projected into the can interior. When no can body arrives at station D the solenoid is not energized and the needle valve remains closed. 1

The spray is directed downwardly against the interior side wall of the can body and against the fiangeof the can body through an opening SI formed in the guard plate 35, which opening is directly in front of the can body end and is just large enough to expose the open end of the can body and its flange. The guard plate prevents the spray from-being deposited on the turret and other working parts of the machine.

To prevent gathering of' coating material on the lower edge of the opening SI a disc 02 is interposed between this edge' and the "path of the spray. The disc is disposed substantially below the opening-9I with its outer circumferential edge just overlapping the lower edge ofthe opening so that the spray is deposited on the can body flange and the disc instead of the opening edge.

The disc is mounted on the end of a short shaft 93 which is carried in a bearing 94 formed in a ,bracket 95 which is bolted tothe top of the table 31. The other end of the shaft carries a sprocket 96 which is connected by a chain-91 to a sprocket 98, mounted on the end of a driving shaft 80,

solvent tank I05 secured to the front of the bracket 95 and closed at its top with a cover-plate and closing of the needle valve of the opening 2 formed in the rear guard plate 35 atthe rear open end of the can body. Such excess spray and fumes are drawn off in any suitable manner such as "by an exhaustfan or blower associated with the duct III but not shown.

At the end of the first spraying cycle the spray is out oil and the can body isfadvanced to the next station.

Thus far the interior side wall surface and the flange adjacent-one open end of the can body cylinder are coated with a layer of liquid coating material. The surface farthest away from this open end however is not coated as heavily as the end. nearest the spray head. This is due to the decrease in concentration of the spray as it extends further away from the spray head. The diiference in the thickness of the coat is compensated, however, by repeating the spraying op-- eration from the opposite open end of the can as will now be explained.

The turret II now advances through another step of its rotation and in sodoing carries the partially coated can away from the roller 4i and along supporting guide rails I2I (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) These guide rails are thinplateswhich take the place of the ribs 28and are secured by screws I22 to. the sides of the brackets 36 and supportthe moving can body by engaging its exterior side walljust behind the end flanges so as not to mar the llthographed outer surface. I

when the turret next pauses ordwells the can body is in position at a spraying station E with its rear open end facing aspray head I23 (Figs. 3 and 4). This head is identical in construction with that just explained in connection with station D and a detailed showing in the drawings and description is therefore deemed unnecessary. The head I 23 is supported on a bracket secured to the side of the main frame in back of the turret.

As the can body is brought into station-E it I identical with the device lI employed at station D. Lever I25'is mounted on the stud 13, between the lever 'II and the bearing I4 and has two arms I26, I21 similar to. the arms .69, 12 of the lever II.

The end of the arm I28 carries a rubber or the like roller I28 which engages the can body exterior side wall without marring it and which actuates the lever when a can is brought' into the station. The free end of the arm I21 extends in front of a movable part of an electric switch I29 which is part of the electric circuit to be hereinafter explained. Included in this circuit is a solenoid I 30, diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6,

and which is identical in construction and operation with the solenoid 83. The closing and opening of the switch I29 energizes and de-energizes the solenoid thereby effecting the opening I23 at a predetermined time.

spray head switch I29 becomes effective.

continuously moving shaft I82 which is journaled in bearings formed in the side of the main frame I5 and is rotated in time with the other parts of the machine in any suitable manner.

The cam I8I makes one complete revolution for each step of rotation of the turret and is so timed as to close the switch I18 for a predetermined length of time when the turret stops with a pocket at station D. If a can is present in the pocket the no-can-no-spray device comprising the' lever 12 and its associated parts, closes the switch 16. g

Under these conditions and when the service switches I83, I15 are closed, current from the generator passes through the circuit just described and'energizes the solenoid 83. Energizing of the solenoid effects the movement of the rod 84 and the connected needle valve stem 64 which opens the valve causing the nozzle to eject a spray of coating material into the can. After a predetermined time the cam I8I opens the switch I18 which breaks the circuit and stops the flow of current. the solenoid and closes the nozzle needle valve which immediately cuts oif the spray.

If no can is present in the turret pocket the no-can-no-spray device does not close the switch 16 and thus the circuit is not completed. It is readily understood that under these conditions the solenoid is not energized and the spray nozzle needle valve is not opened. Thus when no can is present to be sprayed the nozzle does not eject any spray.

When the turret stops a pocket .at the station E, a circuit including the solenoid I30 and This circuit is similar to the one used at station D, and like this circuit one side of the solenoid, in this case the solenoid I30, is connected with the main service wire I64 by a wire I815. The other side of the solenoid is connected by a wire I86 to one terminal post of a service switch I81. The opposite post of the switch is connected by a wire I88 to one side of the switch I29 which has its free side connected to the wire I11 by a short wire I88. Y

When a can is present in the turret pocket the no-canno-spray device comprising the. lever I21 and its associated parts, closes the switch I28. when this switch, the service switches I83,

I81 and the cam actuated switch I18 which serves this circuit also, are closed the circuit is complete and current flows through it.

The .current flows through the service wire I84, wire I85, solenoid I80, wire I88, service switch I81, wire I88, switch I29, wires I89, I",

be completed and no spray from the nozzle will be ejected.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from This action de-e'nergizes the foregoing description, and it will bespparent that various changes may be. made in the form, construction and'arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferredembodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A spraying machine for coating with a liquid coating material the interior surface of container bodies having both ends open, comprising in combination, a rotary turret having peripherally spaced pockets for conveying container bodies in a circular path and to a plurality of spraying stations and a plurality of spraying devices at said stations respectively and alternately disposed adjacent opposite ends of said positioned bodies for ejecting sprays of said material into said positioned bodies in alternately opposed directions, thereby covering the interior surface of said bodies with a protective coating of uniform thickness.

2. A spraying machine for coating with a liquid coating material the interior surface of container bodies having both ends open, comprising in combination, means for feeding a can body to a plurality of spaced spraying stations, means for axially rotating said body alternately in opposite directions at said stations, and spraying devices arranged at said stations respectively adjacent opposite ends of said body for individually and successively spraying the interior surface of said positioned body, first through one end of said body at one of said stations and then through the other end of said body at another of said stations, thereby covering the interiorsurface of said body with a protective coating of uniform thickness.

, 3. A spraying machine for coating with a liquid coating material the interior surface of container bodies having; both ends open, comprising in combination, intermittently moving means for conveying a container body successively to a plurality of spraying stations in spray receiving position, means for individually rotating said positioned body while at said stations, spraying means associated with each of said stations and alternately disposed adjacent opposite ends of said body for applying a plurality of layers of said material through alternately opposite open ends of said body, whereby the layers of said material overlap and intermix, producing a protective coating of uniform thickness on the interior surface of said body, and exhaust ducts at each of said stations spaced from and at ,opposite sides of said conveying means for carrying away circulating fumes and excess coating material.

4. A spraying machine for coating witha liquid coating material the interior surface of container bodies having both ends open, comprising in'combination, means for feeding a container body to a plurality of spaced spraying stations. means for axially rotating said body alternately in opposite directions at said stations respectively, spraying devices arranged alternately adjacent opposite ends of said body at said stacoating material the interior surface ,0! con-,- tainer bodies having both-ends open, comprising in combination, means for feeding a container body to a plurality of spaced spraying stations, means for axially rotating said body alternately in opposite directions at said stations respectainer bodies having both ends open, comprisingv in combination, means for feeding a container body to a plurality of spaced spraying stations, means for axially rotating said body alternately in opposite directions at said stations respectively, spraying devices arranged alternately ad- Jacent opposite end of said body at said stations respectively for individually and successively spraying the interior surface of a said positioned body first from' one end while it isrotated in .one direction at one of said stations and then from the other endwhile it is rotated in the oppositedirectio n at another of said stations and electric means operable by the presence of a said p'ositioned body for actuating said spraying means.

'1. A stirs machine for coating with a liquid coating material flanged container bodies having both ends open, comprising in combination, means for locating a body at a plurality of spraying stations,. sprayingdevices for directing a spray of saidmateriafag'ainst the interior surface and'flanges offsaid positioned body, and a disk rotatable on its own axis associated with one of 'sai'dspraying devices and interposed in the path'of said spray for gauging the application ofsaid'. material to said flanges and for diverting and collecting excess material.

8. A spraying machine for coating with aliquid coating material flanged container bodies with both'. ends open, comprising in combination, means for locating a body at a plurality of spraying stations,-spraying devices for directing a spray-of said material against the interior surface and flanges of said positioned body, a rotatable device associated with each spraying device and interposed in the path of said spray for gauging the application of said material to said flanges and for catching excess material, and means associated with said gauging devices for removing said excess material.

9; A spraying machine for coating with a liquid coating material flanged container bodies having open ends, comprising in combination, a rotatable .turret having a peripheral pocket for receiving and locating a body at a plurality of spraying stations, means for rotating said positionedbody, spraying devices at said stations and successively operable for coating the interior of the body and the flanges surrounding both open ends of saidbody, said spraying devices directing their spray against said 'flanges and into said body interior alternately from opposite di-; rections through the'open ends of said positioned body, and a disc rotatable on its own axis arranged adjacent each spraying device for gauging the application of said coating materiaito said flanges and for diverting excess coatingmaterial.

10. A spraying machine for coating with a I liquid coating material flanged can bodies having open ends, comprising in combination, means for locating a container body in spray receiving positions, means for rotating said positioned- 'disc associated with each device for gauging the application of said coating material to said .15

flanges and, for diverting excess coating material, a solvent tank in which said disc rotates for dissolving said diverted coating material, and a wiper for removing said dissolved material and solvent from said disc.

11. In a machine for spraying the interior surface of flanged container bodies having both ends open and provided with decorated exterior surfaces, comprising in combination, means for locating a said body in a spray receiving position, means for successively spraying the interior surface of said container bodies from-opposite ends thereof, a roller of resilient material for rotating 9. said positioned can body while its interior is being sprayed, said roller engaging said decorated surfaces, and means associated with said locating means, and of narrow extent longitudinally of the can, for engaging and supporting a said can body about a restricted an- ,nular portion immediately adjacent the flange and outside said decorated surface to insure against marring of the latter. s

12. The method of'co'ating the interior surface of a container body having both ends open, comprising, spraying a liquid coating material against said surface through one end of said body while rotating said body in one direction, and then while the applied material is still wet spraying said surface through the other end of said body while rotating itin an opposite direction, whereby two overlapping layers of coating of uniform thickness.

13. A spraying machine for coating with a liquid coating material the interior surface of container bodies having both ends open, comprising in combination, a plurality of spaced spraying stations each having a spraying device mounted adjacent thereto, said spraying devices being adapted for successively ooating the interior surface of a said body with a plurality of layers of said material, a rotary turret having peripherally spaced pockets for conveying container bodies in a circular path intermittently past said spraying devices, saidpockets respectively having an inwardly extending peripheral projection for spacing said container bodies away from the pocket walls to prevent marring of the material intermix to'produce a unitary coating can bodies, one of said devices beingadapted v 

